Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported by your browser. For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. For more information about this message, please visit this page: About CDC.gov.

The Bureau's research in human resource development combines social science and instructional theory and design. Part of this effort is concerned with how miners generally behave under life-threatening conditions. The present paper summarizes work intended to enhance individuals' responses to underground mine emergencies by developing innovative strategies to teach and measure "soft skill" competency at the mining site. The way in which workers respond to emergencies is placed within the practical confines of two key areas: 1) studies of how to teach and assess mine emergency skills; and; 2) investigations into how best to provide effective training for procedural tasks such as self-contained self-rescuer (scsr) donning.